In the past couple of years, the term "DEI" has started popping up *a lot* online, to the point where Googling just those three letters turns up hundreds of hits! However, you would not be alone in admitting that you maybe don't exactly know what DEI...like...is. Fortunately, Lily Zheng (author of the recently-published "DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing It Right") is here to explain everything; not only in layperson's terms, but from a queer perspective! In an incredibly wide-reaching conversation, Lily (they/them) explains how both the acronym "LGBT" and the phrase "people of color" originated as solidarity terms, and demolishes the maddening argument that "it's actually *harder* to be a straight white man right now..." (complete with factual data you can share with all the butthurt people in your life!). Plus, Lauren tells a story that demonstrates why you should NEVER host a tequila drinking contest in your college apartment!Check out https://lilyzheng.co/home/ for more info on Lily (including links to all of their books!), and connect with them on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilyzheng308/.